How to Survive a Teen's First Driving Lesson
The inevitability of raising a teen is teaching her to drive. From the time she learns to ride a bike, she starts planning for the day that she will be unleashed on the highways in your car. In terms of parent-child bonding, teaching your teen to drive can be a memorable experience for both of you.
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Instructions
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Dress casually as for any pleasant outing. Resist the temptation to wear a padded suit or protective headgear. Be sure to breathe and keep muscles relaxed. Placed folded hands in the lap.
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Explain to the new driver how to adjust the rear view and side view mirrors. Make sure that seatbelts are securely fastened. Talk about turn signals, the horn, the emergency brake, and various dashboard controls.
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Start small by driving in an empty parking lot. Discuss the plan first: e.g., drive to a specified point, turn right, drive back to the starting location. Talk it through before commencing.
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Compliment the driver. Use a calm, moderate voice. Reassure the driver by focusing on the things he's doing correctly.
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Trust the driver. Resist the urge to grab the wheel or the emergency brake, honk the horn or make adjustments for the driver. Make calm suggestions to the driver and let her decide.
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Increase the driving challenge by moving to a neighborhood to practice starts, stops and turns. Talk about defensive driving. Move eventually onto the main roads as the driver's comfort level increases.
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Conclude each driving session with an evaluation period. State what she's doing right. Allow the driver to identify error(s) and express ways to correct it.
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Tips & Warnings
Never shout, "You're going to get us both killed," especially before the car is started.
Consider hiring a professional instructor in the event that progress is slow or communication is poor.
